Earlier this year, Jose (Angel) Franco was putting a ton of miles on his small car. Three times a week, he would pick up at least half a dozen community members to bring them to church for worship, a dinner, and a Bible study. Some of them lived a good distance away—up to 45 minutes one way. It took him several hours and multiple trips to retrieve everyone who wanted to participate in Cristo En Tu Ayuda, the growing Hispanic ministry that he and his wife Lourdes started out of First UMC in Worthington.
Other times throughout the week, Angel gave rides to legal appointments and food pantries—mostly to recent immigrants seeking to make a life in Minnesota. He was constantly in the car, and for months, he prayed for a van that would allow him to help more people and cut down on drive time.
Several months ago, his prayer was answered. He got his van, and it’s all thanks to a Korean Methodist church located more than 6,200 miles away.
As the Minnesota Conference seeks to support and expand Hispanic-Latino ministries across the state, Rev. Dr. Woojae Im wanted to do his part to help the Francos acquire a van. So the Southern Prairie District superintendent contacted his longtime friend and colleague, Korean pastor Rev. Seongchul Kang. He told Kang about the need, describing it as a mission opportunity, and encouraged Kang to pray about it.
The side of the van has the United Methodist cross and flame, and the contact information for Cristo En Tu Ayuda and its home church, First UMC in Worthington.Kang talked with other leaders of his congregation, Yesan Central Methodist Church in South Korea, and they were intrigued. The church had set aside $7,500 for Kang to take a mission trip to Spain and Portugal in early 2025—and the church’s lay leader, Hyunmi Ko, had vowed to match that amount. But after thinking and praying about the Francos and their transportation challenges, they felt God was calling them to give that full $15,000, and another $4,000 they came up with, to Cristo En Tu Ayuda for a van that could seat more than a dozen passengers.
“I can go on a mission trip next time,” said Kang. “This is a really important mission, and it is the will of God to support this mission.”
Ko was also more than happy to shift her donation to the van for one simple reason: It will enable more people to come to know the Lord. “That would be a good thing for God’s plan,” she said.
Yesan has funded many projects in various countries—including supporting missionaries and underwriting short-term mission trips for youth and young adults. Kang explained that in the post-pandemic era, Korean Methodist churches have seen significant declines. It’s important to him to support projects that are growing and effectively reaching new people with the gospel message, even if they are outside of Korea. Cristo En Tu Ayuda certainly fit the bill.
When Angel and Lourdes heard about what Yesan and its leaders wanted to do for them, they were deeply touched.
“I feel like I don’t have enough words to thank them for what they did,” said Angel. “It was God’s purpose. It was a miracle.”
These days, Angel can pick up multiple churchgoers in less than an hour, drive more community members to appointments, and spend a lot less time on the road.
The pre-owned van, along with the insurance and title, cost about $16,000. The remaining $3,000 has been set aside for the vehicle’s maintenance over time.
When asked what their hopes and dreams are as they look ahead, Angel and Lourdes both say they want to raise up new ministry leaders, give them the tools they need, and partner with them to start more churches. Their focus: spreading the gospel far and wide.
excerpt from a story by Christa Meland, is director of communications for the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
